Spinner nozzle for air blast orchard sprayer

ABSTRACT

An atomizing nozzle of the type used for discharging liquid agricultural chemicals into the air blast of an orchard sprayer, and including a discharge bell, or spinner cone, having external air vanes to spin the cone and centrifugally disperse the spray. The spray solution is directed into the cone by a fixed conduit and spray nozzle which are externally located with respect to the cone and its rotary mounting structure in order to eliminate internal flow passages from which the incoming spray solution might escape and cause corrosion or blockage to impair the operation of the nozzle.

United States Patent Mencacci Feb. 12 1974 SPINNER NOZZLE FOR AIR BLAST[56] References Cited ORCHARD SPRAYER UNITED STATES PATENTS [75]Inventor: Samuel Alfred Mencacci, Antwerp, 1,239, 30 /19 Shaw 239/222.l7B l i 3,081,949 3/1963 Simmons." 239/383 1,609,047 11/1926 Beale239/222.l7 [73] Assignee: Internation l M hin ry 2,220,275 11 1940Preston 239/222.11

Corporation, S.A., St. Niklaas-Waas, B lgium Primary ExaminerLloyd L.King [22] Filed, May 13 1971 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-R. S. Kelly [2]]Ap l. No.: 143,177 57 ABSTRACT Related US. Application D t An atomizingnozzle of the type used for discharging [62] Division of Sen 27 017 Apr9 1970 Pat liquid agricultural chemicals into the air blast of an or-3Y666,177 a chard sprayer, and including a discharge bell, or spinnercone, having external air vanes to spin the cone 30 Foreign Applicationpriority Data and centrifugally disperse the spray. The spray solu- Feb25 1970 Bel ium 49936 tion is directed into the cone by a fixed conduitand g spray nozzle which are externally located with respect [52] U S Cl239/222 17 239/77 239/383 to the cone and its rotary mounting structurein order [51] Int Cl l B05b 3/04 to eliminate internal flow passagesfrom which the in- [58] Field of Search 23'9/222'11 222.17, 382 383,coming spray solution might escape and cause corro- I sion or blockageto impair the operation of the nozzle.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION Thisapplication is a division of application Serial No. 27,017 filed Apr. 9,1970, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,666,177.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention concerns spray nozzlesof the spinning type which are used in orchard sprayers that generate anair blast in which the spray is entrained and carried to the foliage tobe treated. Spin-type nozzles employ external vanes on a centrifugalspray distributor that is spun by the air blast impinging upon thevanes.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART Spray nozzles of the vane-driven spinningtype are known in the prior art, one example of which is shown in US.Pat. No. 3,552,652, and generally include a discharge bell or spinnercone which is rotatable on a fixed support having an axial flow passagefor supplying spray solution to the interior discharge surface of thebell. Because of the prior art conceptions of spinner nozzleconstruction and operation, the usual spinner nozzle requires more orless elaborate seals, close tolerances, and other costly structuraldetails for the purpose of preventing clogging of the liquid when it isdelivered to the discharge bell. Most spray solutions are highlycorrosive and are often contaminated with scale or other undesirabledebris which lead to clogging or flow restriction and impair or preventrotation of the discharge bell. Since the application of pesticides andthe like is usually a closely controlled operation to provide effectivecoverage with the proper amount of spray concentrate, it is evident thatthe result of ma]- functioning or inoperative nozzles is of seriousconsequence to the user. Another problem is that it is usually 40difficult to alter the output of most spinning nozzles because the flowrate is fixed by the restrictions in the internal passages.

Another disadvantage of prior art spinning nozzles which includespinning cones fed through internal passages in the nozzle structure isthat the pressure drop in the passages can create a partial vacuumtending to draw the spray solution into the bearings and other areaswhich must be isolated for proper operation of the nozzle. An attemptedprior art solution is the provision of radial relief passages drilledinto the discharge bell near the apex thereof to break or alleviate thevacuum, but this structure has not completely solved the problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention completely eliminatesinternal flow passages in the relatively rotatable portions of thenozzle to eliminate the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior artnozzles and provide a trouble free nozzle particularly well adaptedto anair blast type of orchard sprayer. The nozzle according to the inventioncomprises a hollow spinner cone provided at its apex with an externalbody carrying spinner blades, said spinner cone being rotatably carriedby a fixed shaft projecting from a support, and a nozzle'supply tubelocated outside of said spinner body, said tube being bent near its freeextremity, the latter penetrating into said cone and being located nearthe apex thereof. Since the spinner cone is externally fed through thesupply tube, spray solution cannot easily reach or contaminate thebearings for the spinner cone.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 schematically illustrates theconfiguration of a sprayer embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view, partially in axial section,of a nozzle asindicated by F in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view according to line IIIIII of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-section according to line IVIV in FIG. 2. i

As shown in FIG. 1, a sprayer embodying the invention comprises anengine .1 driving a fan 2 and a variable capacity hydrualic pump 3, aclutch 4 in the fan drive, allowing to disconnect the fan for roadtravel or other operations. The following is a brief description of oneoperating environment for the spinner nozzle of the present invention,as disclosed in the previously identified parent application, Ser. No.27,017, now us. Patent NO. 3,666,177.

Pump 3 feeds a hydraulic motor Sthrough conduits 6 and 7, the lattercomprising control means 8 to adjust the capacity of pump 3.

The output shaft 9 of motor 5 has a wheel 10 keyed thereto and isconnected to the driven or input shaft 1 1 ,of an'axle assembly 12. Saidassembly comprises a differential l3 and drive wheels 14 and 15 for thesprayer. If necessary, shafts 9 and 11 may be coupled via a gearreduction 16.

Wheel 10 drives a wheel 17, through a chain or belt 18, said wheel 17being keyed to the shaft 19 of a variable capacity pump 20. Preferablythe latter will be of the wobble-type, with adjustable wobble-plate.This pump 20 has an inlet conduit 21 connected to a liquid tank (notshown) and an outlet pipe 22 feeding a group of nozzles 23 located inthe trajectory of the air blast generated by fan 2. A clutch 24 may beprovided to disconnect pump 20 during road travel.

This configuration allows to preset the engine speed to drive the fan ata constant speed, which is essential for good spraying.

Notwithstanding the constant speed of engine 1, the ground speed of thesprayer may be modified'by acting on pump 3, through control means 8.The liquid pump 20, will, in any case, be driven proportionally to theground speed of the sprayer.

As shown in FIGS. 2-4, the present invention is'concerned with nozzles23. Each of such nozzles is a spinning nozzle which comprises a hollowspinner cone 25 having an external, cylindrical body 26 at its apex. Anaxial, shouldered bore 27 traverses the cone-body unit. Said body 26 isprovided at' its periphery with spinner blades 28. The assembly thusfardescribed is rotatably mounted on a shaft 29, extending through thelower part of bore 27 as seen in FIG. 2 and therein supported by abushing or bearing 30. At both extremities of the latter, retaining andsealrings 31 and 32 are mounted around shaft 29. The air blast from thefan 2 impinges upon the blades and causes the body 26 to rapidly rotate.

The threaded lower extremity of shaft 29 is screwed in a fixed support33 having a flanged, cup shaped upper part 34 facing said body 26. Theupper part of bore 27 is threaded and receives a water-tight plug 35.

A nozzle supply tube 36 is connected to a liquid passage 37 providedwithin support 33, and extends externally of the nozzle assembly. Thefree end portion of said tube is bent so that it partly penetrates intothe cone 2S. Said free end is either provided with a calibrated orificefor the passage of liquid or, as shown, has a threaded end to which anozzle 38 is screwed. This construction allows to easily and speedilyadapt the nozzles in special cases.

i As some of the spinning nozzles 23 are often located one above theother, it might happen that liquid could drip from an upper to a lowernozzle into the space between the body 26 and the cup-shaped part 34 ofsupport 33, and somehow reach the bushing 30 notwithstanding seal 32. Toprevent this, the free circular face 39 of body 26is provided with aseries of spiral grooves 40, extending from the centre to the peripheraledge of said face. In operation, any liquid that might possibly get bythe flanged ends of cup-shaped part 34 would be spun out by saidgrooves, during the rotation of body 26. Vent holes 41 can also beprovided in said part 34.

The part of feed tube 36 extending in front of the spinner cone 25 canbe aerodynamically profiled, as indicated at 42 in FIGS. 2 and 4.

The upper face 43 of the liquid-tight plug 35 can be either flat orprofiled to assist in breaking up the liquid droplets to the desiredsize. Plug 35 is removed only for disassembly of the shaft bearing,respectively 29 and 30. It will be evident that the structuralorganization of the spinning nozzle 23 assures that the spray solutioncannot contaminate the bearing surfaces or any other relatively movingparts to impair the free rotation of the spinner cone 25 and that theflow characteristics of the nozzle will remain constant over a longperiod of use.

Of course, numerous modifications or additions may be brought asspecific circumstances dictate to the embodiment described hereabove byway of example only, without departing from the scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. For use in an air blast orchard sprayer, a nozzle comprising a hollownozzle cone extended ,at its apex by an outer cylindrical spinner bodycarrying spinner blades, a fixed shaft projecting from the center of acup shaped part of a fixed support, for rotatably supporting saidnozzle, said spinner body having a circular end face provided withspiral grooves extending from the center to the periphery thereof, ventholes being provided into said cup shaped part, and a nozzle supply tubeexternal of said spinner body positioned so as to direct fluid into theapex of said nozzle cone.

2. A spinning nozzle for an air blast sprayer comprising a supporthaving a threaded shank for affixing one end of the support to a liquidsupply manifold, said shank including an internal passage communicatingwith the manifold, an axle shaft extending axially from the other end ofsaid support, a spinner cone having a body portion mounted on said axleshaft for free rotation, said spinner cone having an outwardly openenddirected away from said axle shaft and outwardly extending spinnerblades on said body portion for rotating said spinner cone in the airblast, said body portion having an end face confronting said support,said face being provided with slinger grooves radiating from said axleshaft to disperse liquid from said face by centrifugal force, and anexterior tube connected to said passage and terminating within the openend of said spinner cone, said tube having a streamlined section tominimize turbulence of the air blast and providing the only supply ofliquid for centrifugal dispersion by said spinner cone into the airblast.

3. For use in an air blast orchard sprayer, a spinning nozzle assemblycomprising a hollow open-ended spinner cone for distributing sprayliquid outwardly thereof from its open end and having externally thereofat its closed apex end generally radially extending air-driven blades, asupport disposed adjacent said cone apex end, a fixed shaft projectingfrom said support toward and rotatably journaled within said cone at itsclosed apex thereby to permit free rotation of said cone on said supportwhen an air blast impinges against said blades, and a single supplypassage for spray liquid comprising a tube carried by said supportextending externally therefrom outside of said spinner cone andterminating in a reversely bent portion defining a discharge orificedisposed within the open end of said cone, whereby said spray liquid isdischarged from said tube solely within said air-driven spinning conefor distribution outwardly therefrom and away from the rotatable shaftmounting therefor.

4. The spinning nozzle assembly of claim 3 further including ascrew-threaded portion of said tube which defines said dischargeorifice.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE OERTIFTCATE OF CORRECTION PATENT NO.,791,582

DATED I February 12, 1974 tNVENTORtSt 1 SAMUEL ALFRED MENCACCI It iscertified that error appears in the above-identified patent and thatsard Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below: 8

Column 3, line 46, after "support" delete -comma.

Column 3, line 48, after "face" add adjacent said cup shaped part-. Q

Signed and Scaled this fifth Day of August 1975 [SEAL] Arrest:

RUTH C. MASON c. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Offirer (ummissr'mu'ruj'Parenls and Trademarks

1. For use in an air blast orchard sprayer, a nozzle comprising a hollownozzle cone extended at its apex by an outer cylindrical spinner bodycarrying spinner blades, a fixed shaft projecting from the center of acup shaped part of a fixed support, for rotatably supporting saidnozzle, said spinner body having a circular end face provided withspiral grooves extending from the center to the periphery thereof, ventholes being provided into said cup shaped part, and a nozzle supply tubeexternal of said spinner body positioned so as to direct fluid into theapex of said nozzle cone.
 2. A spinning nozzle for an air blast sprayercomprising a support having a threaded shank for affixing one end of thesupport to a liquid supply manifold, said shank including an internalpassage communicating with the manifold, an axle shaft extending axiallyfrom the other end of said support, a spinner cone having a body portionmounted on said axle shaft for free rotation, said spinner cone havingan outwardly open end directed away from said axle shaft and outwardlyextending spinner blades on said body portion for rotating said spinnercone in the air blast, said body portion having an end face confrontingsaid support, said face being provided with slinger grooves radiatingfrom said axle shaft to disperse liquid from said face by centrifugalforce, and an exterior tube connected to said passage and terminatingwithin the open end of said spinner cone, said tube having a streamlinedsection to minimize turbulence of the air blast and providing the onlysupply of liquid for centrifugal dispersion by said spinner cone intothe air blast.
 3. For use in an air blast orchard sprayer, a spinningnozzle assembly comprising a hollow open-ended spinner cone fordistributing spray liquid outwardly thereof from its open end and havingexternally thereof at its closed apex end generally radially extendingair-driven blades, a support disposed adjacent said cone apex end, afixed shaft projecting from said support toward and rotatably journaledwithin said cone at its closed apex thereby to permit free rotation ofsaid cone on said support when an air blast impinges against saidblades, and a single supply passage for spray liquid comprising a tubecarried by said support extending externally therefrom outside of saiDspinner cone and terminating in a reversely bent portion defining adischarge orifice disposed within the open end of said cone, wherebysaid spray liquid is discharged from said tube solely within saidair-driven spinning cone for distribution outwardly therefrom and awayfrom the rotatable shaft mounting therefor.
 4. The spinning nozzleassembly of claim 3 further including a screw-threaded portion of saidtube which defines said discharge orifice.